Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 5 · Psalm 57
PSAL. LVII.
ALtaſchith] i. e. Deſtroy not; David being in an imminent danger of deſtruction in the Cave,foreign Sept. might ſend up this ſhort requeſt as it were in a fright, before he uttered this inſuing prayer. Altaſchith in ſuch an exigent might well be an effectual prayer; as was the Woman of Canaans, Lord help me, and the ſick mans, Ah Father; or theſe might now be his words (to Abiſhai, or ſome other of his Servants, whoſe fingers even itched to bee doing with Saul) as afterwards they were upon a like occaſion, 1 Sam. 26.9. Deſtroy not Saul. See thou do it not.
Michtam of David] See Pſal. 16. title.
When he fled from Saul in the Cave] 1 Sam. 24.1. Or, into the Cave for ſhelter; and where when he might have cut Sauls throat, he cut his Coat only, and was inwardly checked for it; nevertheleſs the Spirit came upon him, which was no ſmall comfort, as Aben-Ezra here obſerveth, and he ſaid.
Verſ. 1. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful] q. d. Now or never help at a dead lift. Bis pro more rogantium, ad corrober andum, ſaith Kimchi. Other Jew-Doctors give this reaſon of the repetition of his petition, Be merciful, &c. leſt either I fall into Sauls hands,Midr. Tilli. or Saul into mine; leſt deſire of revenge prick me on to kill him. Or, Have mercy on me, that I ſin not; or if I do ſin, that I may repent.
For my ſoul truſteth in thee] An excellent argument, ſo it comes from the ſoul, ſo it be heart-ſprung.
Yea in the ſhadow of thy wings, &c.] As the little Chicken in danger of the Kite hovereth, and covereth under the Hen.
Ʋntil theſe calamities be over-paſt] For long they will not continue; Nubecula eſt, ſite tranſibit, ſaid Athanaſins of the Arrian Perſecutions, which for preſent were very ſharp. So Maſter Jewel about the beginning of Queen Maries reign, perſwading many to patience, ſaid often, Hac non durabunt aetatem, this ſharp ſhower will ſoon over.
Verſ. 2. I will cry unto God moſt high] Who can eaſily over-top Saul, as high as he is, and all his complices; againſt whom I have this comfort, that in the thing wherein they deal proudly, God is above them, Exod. 18.11.
Ʋnto God that performeth all things for mee] And in mee, Iſa. 26.12. doth not his work to the halves, but is both author and finiſher of my faith, and other affairs, Heb. 12.2. Phil. 1.6. Pſal. 138.8. Here are the two props of Davids prayer, Firſt, Gods ſufficiency, he is the Moſt High. Secondly, his efficiency, he perfectly accompliſheth all things for mee.
Verſ. 3. He ſhall ſend from Heaven and ſave mee] Rather than fail, I ſhall have an Angel to reſcue mee; for although the Lord uſually worketh by means, yet he can work by miracles, and will do it, if there be a juſt occaſion; howſoever, his mercy and his truth he will be ſure to ſend, and that's enough. He will be ſeen in the Mount, he will repent for his ſervants when he ſe…th their power is gone, Deut. 32.36. when there is dignus vindice nodus, an extremity fit for divine power to interpoſe.
Verſ. 4. My ſoul is among Lions] And ſo is a lively picture of the Church in all ages. Would any man take the Churches picture, ſaith Luther? then let him paint a ſilly poor maid ſitting in a wood or wilderneſs, compaſſed about with hungry Lions, Wolves, Boars, and Bears, &c. Talis eſt Eccleſia in has vita, ſicut & in hiſtoria Danielis pingitur.
And I lie even among them that are ſet on fire] ſc. With rage and helliſh hatred: Others expound it actively, of thoſe Ardeliones anlici, thoſe Court-Incendiaries, who enraged Saul and the Nobles againſt David; as a traitour and Peſt. See 1 Sam. 24 10.
Even the ſons of men] i. e. Carnall men, that being in their pure naturalls, have no goodneſſe at all in them.
Whoſe teeth are ſpears and arrows] Such was Doeg that dead dog, and others void of the Spirit, which is, ne que mendax, ne que mordax.
Verſ. 5. Be thou exalted O God above the Heavens] That is, ſaith the Chaldee, above the Angels.
And let thy glory be above all the Earth] That is, above the inhabitants of the earth. There are, ſaith Kimchi, that think thou either wilt not, or elſe canſt not ſave; O let thy power appear for the conviction of all ſuch who now lift up themſelves, and ſeem at leaſt to touch the Heaven with one finger.
Verſ. 6. They have prepared a net for my steps] So that I can hardly keep foot out of ſnare: I dare not lift up one foot till I find ſure footing for the other; and that's hard to do. See Sauls charge to the Z…phites, 1 Sam. 23.22.
My ſoul is bowed down] I am glad to ſhrink in my ſelf (as fearfull people uſe to do) that I may ſhun thoſe gins and snares that they have ſet to maim and miſchieve mee.
They have digged a pit, &c.] They have forced mee into this ſubterranean cave; and behold Saul himſelf is caſt into mine hands, in this mine hiding-hole.
foreign.
Verſ. 7. My heart is fixed O God] I am both ready and reſolute: I doubt not of deliverance, and am well prepared to praiſe God. It is fit he ſhould have the fruit of his own planting, and that of the beſt too: Otherwiſe, it is no better than the refreſhing of him that ſtandeth by a good fire; and ſaith Aha, I am warm.
Verſ. 8. Awake up my glory] He rouſeth himſelf out of his natural drouſineſſe, as Sampſon once went forth and ſhook himſelf.
I my ſelf will awake early] Or, I will awaken the morning, as the Cock by his early crowing, is ſaid to do.
Non vigil ales ibi criſtati cantibus oris Evocat auroram—Ovid. Metam lib. 11.
Verſ. 9. I will praiſe thee O Lord — Among the Nations] This was done by Chriſt calling the Gentiles, Pſal. 18.49. Rom. 15.9.
Verſ. 10. For thy mercy is great, &c.] Gods mercy is ordinarily in the Pſalms bounded by his truth; that none may either preſume him more mercifull than he hath declared himſelf in his word; or elſe deſpair of finding merciemercy gratis, according to his promiſe.
Verſ. 11. Be thou exalted, &c.] Verſus amaebaeus, ſee verſ. 5. only that's in way of prayer; this, of praiſe.